Scarlet Princess (The Lochlann Feuds Book 1) by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Author:Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison [Mahle, Robin D. & Madison, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whiskey & Willow Publishing
Published: 2021-08-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

As soon as Iiro approached, Inessa burst from the carriage and ran into his arms. He held her firmly against his chest, his bloody hand running through her hair as he murmured things into her ear.

Watching them felt as if we were somehow intruding on an intimate moment. Frankly, it felt strange that Iiro had intimate moments, from the brusque exterior he had shown me.

Then again, there was clearly more to him than I had given him credit for. He had been willing to die in place of his brother, willing to die protecting his wife. Whatever his faults, he wasn’t heartless.

When he lifted his eyes to meet mine, there was gratitude shining from his gaze, and something else, something that gave me pause.

Guilt.

Which made me wonder if for all Theo’s assurances that the Summit would decide to let me live, that outcome was less likely than they would have liked me to believe.

Theo grasped my hand tighter, as though he sensed my sudden anxiety, and I let him pull me closer, let him ground me against the chaos that hadn’t stopped assaulting me since the moment the tunnel caved in.

Iiro noted the exchange and shot Theo a questioning look. The one Theo returned was equal parts warning and pleading, and Iiro hesitated only a second before muttering something in Socairan that sounded like an order.

Theo gave a sharp nod in response. They both looked from the carriage to the road ahead, conversing in grim, speculative tones.

Before I knew it, Theo was lifting me bodily onto one of the enormous destriers -- sidesaddle, of course -- before climbing up behind me.

I was about to protest when he wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, pulling me against his chest.

“We need to get there quickly to avoid another skirmish,” his deep voice intoned in my ear.

“What about the wounded, and the...dead?” I asked.

“The men will see to them. We need to get you and Inessa somewhere safe.”

He spurred the horse into a run without waiting for a response, crushing me against his body.

The way he held me, it was like we were in the middle of another storm and I was about to be swept away from him. And it didn’t matter that we were both filthy and smeared in other people’s blood.

I sensed that this time, he needed the closeness as much as I did.

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